The only boxer to win the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year award, won the first Light Welterweight National title in the year of the division’s introduction. 

Barry Brown, who represented Hawkes Bay, defeated Otago's Joe McNally at the 1951 Nationals held in Palmerston North. The New Zealand light welterweight crown was the Dannevirke resident’s second national amateur title, following the flyweight title in 1948.

Brown will be remembered forever in the sport in our country, in winning the British Empire professional welterweight title in 1954, in the first British Empire boxing title to be contested in New Zealand. Barry defeated South African Gerald Dreyer, who had won an Olympic gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

In front of ten thousand plus spectators at Wellington's Basin Reserve, Brown stopped the tough South African in the seventh stanza, to the delight of the patriotic crowd.

Joe McNally, who was defeated by Barry Brown in the first light welterweight national final, made amends the following year, beating Alex Black from Southland to claim the gold medal. The Otago pugilist showcased his outstanding ring-craft in being awarded the Jameson Belt. McNally would go on to box in 35 professional bouts, holding the professional lightweight title from 1956 to 1959.

Alan Scaife, who would go on to an outstanding coaching career, became the third light-welter national titleholder defeating Nobby Clarke from Canterbury in the 1953 title decider. Alan became the first light welterweight, to wear the black singlet at an Empire Games, when he earned selection for the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada.  

Three West Coast boxers all of whom were trained by “Doc” Finlay set a remarkable record in a ten-year period from 1948. Maurice and Vern Tuck, along with Graham Finlay won thirteen New Zealand titles - with Finlay beating Ray Mitchell from Canterbury in the 1954 light welterweight final.

Otematata carpenter Brian Maunsell, became the first multiple light-welter champion, winning the Geoff Watchorn Belt in 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1963. His third title saw the South Island boxer awarded the Jameson belt. Maunsell was selected for the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he was unlucky to sustain an eye injury which saw the bout awarded to his Russian opponent.

The career of Billy Graham spanned the sixties and seventies. The popular Hutt Valley boxer was another protégé of Dick Dunn and like Brian Maunsell won the lightwelter crown four times. Billy has a unique place in New Zealand boxing history, as the only boxer to win the Jameson Belt, Bill O’Connor Cup for the youngest senior titleholder and the Parker Memorial Trophy as the best loser, during his career. 

Grant Scaife, followed in his father Alan footsteps, in winning the light welterweight crown at the 1979 Wellington Nationals. Other prominent boxers to win the ten-stone crown in the 1960's and early 1970's, were Mike Treacy Paul Lister, Steven Scholes and Mike Treacy with Ali Afikasi and Denny Enright going on to distinguished professional careers.

Two 1970’s Light Welterweight champions were selected for the pinnacle event in world amateur boxing, with David Jackson and Robert Colley, boxing at the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal, Canada.

Trained by Alan Scaife, David Jackson, won the lightwelter title at the 1973 and 1974 National championships, before moving up to the welterweight division where he twice won the Jameson Belt. Jackson became just the second Kiwi boxer to win an Olympic bout (in the welterweight division) when he defeated at Tunisian boxer at the 1976 Olympics.

David Jackson bowed out of boxing with an outstanding international record of engaging in 14 bouts, winning ten (three losses on split decision), which also included participation at the 1974 and 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Four-time senior champion Robert Colley, won sole his light welterweight title in 1975, sandwiched between double lightweight success in 1976 and 1974 and the welterweight crown in 1976. The Wellington pugilist was who David Jackson’s teammate at the 1976 Montreal Olympic, crowning glory came at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. After defeating Cook Island and Lesotho opponents, Colley lost a close decision to 1974 World Amateur champion Ayub Kalule from Uganda, to win a bronze medal. 

Hutt Valley light welterweight Apelu Ioane, became the only Kiwi boxer to fight at three Commonwealth Games, after earning selection for the 1978, 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth pinnacle boxing tournament.

Longevity, was the name of the game of the Alan Scaife trained fighter, who won five National crowns spread over eight years. Apelu Ioane opened his light welterweight national titles account, at the 1980 Invercargill championships, with a victory over well credentialed Nelson boxer Barry Galbraith. 

Two further championship successes   in 1981 and 1982, stretched his record to three straight titles, after defeating Central North Island terrier Michael Sykes and Southland’s Johnny Peterson. The 1985 Christchurch championships, saw Ioane defeat Barry Galbraith for a second time in a light-welter title decider, with his fifth championship victory against (then) newcomer Nuka Wood from the far north of the country.

Article added: Monday 10 August 2020